Delroy Chuck

How well a country is governed can be assessed by the performance of its economy, its crime-control measures and the ability of its leaders to engender hope and a feeling of well-being. Somehow, one gets the distinct impression as another election approaches that this PNP government, without any economic accomplishment or sustained crime reduction success, intends to promise and convince the people that the economy is about to take off and all the social ills, including crime and poverty, will soon disappear.

Economic growth

After almost 18 years of failures on virtually every front, it is sheer effrontery for this administration to even talk of success or dare to promise that things will turn around in the fifth term. If this Government has not been able to grow the economy by an annual average of even two per cent during its four terms, why should we believe it will ever grow the economy by three per cent and more, at any time. Without achievable economic growth of five per cent and more, Jamaica will never find peace, prosperity and the good life.

Under this administration, more persons have been murdered annually than at any time in our history. Over the past 10 years, an average of over 1,000 persons have been killed. In the past two years, we are averaging over 1,500 murders per year. Is there any reason to believe that during another five years of this administration, another 7,500 Jamaicans will not be killed? The Government glorifies any reduction in murders, and rightly so, but has the reduction ever been sustained? In 1998, there were 953 murders, which, reduced to 849 in 1999. In 2000, murders climbed again to 887 and then to a new high of 1,139 in 2001. In 2002, murders fell to 1,045 and then to 975 in 2003. But, in 2004 murders climbed to 1,471 and to a frightening 1,674 in 2005.

Inextricably linked

I have always felt that crime and the economy are inextricably linked. When an economy is not performing and the gap between the rich and poor widens, there will be discontent, frustration and desperation.

So, can the JLP make a difference and bring hope where desperation now exists? On the economy, the contrast is clear: The PNP believes government is about poverty alleviation, economic distribution and contracts to the genetically-connected, while JLP governments focus on economic development, wealth creation and fiscal prudence. For 18 years, this PNP government has sought to grow the economy by borrowing, begging and bemoaning the unfair distribution of the world's wealth, when the blueprint for economic growth is very simple - production, investment and competitive advantage.

Peaceful and prosperous

On crime control, if what has been achieved in the peaceful and prosperous constituency of North East St. Andrew since 1998 - where gang warfare, community conflicts, political violence and major crimes, especially murders, have been virtually eliminated in the hitherto war-torn areas of Barbican, Shortwood and Grants Pen - was replicated elsewhere, Jamaica would turn the corner towards a better future. The blueprint for crime control, especially in volatile inner-city communities, is simple: all the stakeholders - the politicians, the police, the ministers fraternal, the business community, government agencies, community organisations and the residents - must cooperate and work together. But, it takes leadership, not 'oneupmanship', to ensure that communities achieve peace and hope for a better tomorrow.

Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by email at delchuck@hotmail.com.